A shaman is a person who chooses to work consciously with the threads of life
that cross the boundaries of middle world reality to help or heal.
A shaman can be a man, or a woman, from any tradition or background. The word shaman comes from Siberia,
and refers to a type of medicine man or woman especially distinguished by the use of journeys
to hidden worlds otherwise mainly known through myth, dream, and near-death experiences.
Most commonly they do this by entering an altered state of consciousness using monotonous percussion sound.
In the shamanic worldview, there is more than one concurrent reality,
and it is possible to walk between these worlds for knowledge and power.
It is important to understand that power is not a word used in a manipulative sense,
but in the same quality as life force or energy.
This power may be interpreted also as well-being or vitality.

Often, in our reality, we encounter challenges that distance us
from our true selves and weaken us if we allow the encounters to deplete our life force.
In the way of the shaman, a person may choose to examine those challenges
in a different way, much as you would with self-hypnosis or conscious dreaming.
In addition, there are shamans that are proficient in doing this work for others
who are willing to enter into the realm of another's realities in order to retrieve
the power needed, the guidance and support, or remove
unwanted inclusions/attachments from the other person for healing.

My Medicine Name is "Rainbow Crow Woman"...
here is one of my relatives, the American Crow,
Corvus brachyrhynchos!

Working between the worlds naturally leads to interface with the spirits of nature:
animals, plants, and even minerals.
This interaction progresses to relationship, and an understanding that all are related,
and must "Walk in Balance" to maintain the beauty of natural order.
The shaman calls upon helpers from the spirits to support in healing and journey work.
They may act as guides, as teachers, and as protectors.
Any animal can be a guide, and each has its own particular personality and characteristics
that are in congruence with the shaman, and helpful to their work.
In addition, these guides may become more important at various times,
and may share the guidance of the shaman with other animal spirits for certain tasks.

There are also spirit guides that are not animals, plants or minerals, but are people and other beings who have agreed to serve as helpers in this way. They may appear at any time and may sometimes show up as shapeshifters, because they do not need a particular physical form in the places where they normally reside. Because of this, some guides may also use familiar mythical forms, as well.

Are you ready to learn about Walking Between the Worlds?
Take my hand and follow me:

Write Rainbow Crow!

For information on the Foundation for Shamanic Studies,
including where to purchase journeywork tapes and CD's:
Foundation for Shamanic Studies